Andhra Pradesh

A weekend circuit to Gandikota's dramatic Pennar River gorge and the Belum Caves, doable equally well from Hyderabad or Bengaluru.

Duration

A weekend — either drive out Friday night or head out early Saturday morning, stay one night at Gandikota, and return Sunday.

Best time

October to February, when temperatures are pleasant enough for a full day outdoors. Summers in this part of Andhra Pradesh get genuinely harsh, with temperatures climbing well past 40°C.

Budget

Stay and food for two people can easily be done for under ₹5,000 (roughly $55/€45) for the whole trip — though you can spend considerably more if you want to.

Getting around

Self-drive works well from either city. From Bengaluru specifically, a train to Jammalamadugu followed by an 18km car/auto ride is also a realistic option if you'd rather not drive the whole way.